Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a vending machine including a display cabinet of containers ( 2 ) for the products, a numerical selector ( 3 ), a coin slot ( 5 ), an information display ( 4 ) and an outlet ( 6 ). The machine is characterised in that the containers ( 2 ) rotate with an internally secured spring ( 7 ) in order to dispense the product. The invention includes a hopper ( 18 ) which receives the product dispensed by the container ( 2 ) and which can be moved both horizontally an vertically in order to be positioned below the container ( 2 ) housing the product that has been selected. The invention also includes a system for automatically filling the bags that receive the product supplied by the tilting of the hopper ( 18 ). Said automatic bagging system consists of a tilting, movable suction plate ( 33 ) by means of which bags ( 51 ) are removed from a container ( 52 ) and positioned opposite a stationary vertical plate ( 40 ) in order for the bag to be opened and receive the product released during the tilting of the hopper ( 18 ), said bag falling together with the product into the corresponding outlet receptacle ( 41 ).

The present invention relates to a machine from the type of those known as vending machines, planned for dispensing loose products, preferably titbits, and, at the same time, weighing the dispensed product.

The aim of the invention is to simplify the operations made for buying titbits, with no need of buying the product and, after that, weighing it, as it happens now.

Although the machine is planned specially for its use in dispensing and weighing titbits, it is not dismissed for vending or dispensing any other small loose product, such as screws, buttons or dried fruits.

STATE OF THE ART

As it is known, there are many titbit shops and other loose products on which each product is housed on a container with a lateral or superior tilting trap door, through which the consumer takes the wanted product by acting over the trap door or through a ladle that takes the products directly from the container. In both cases, not only the consumer has to go to different containers for buying different products, but after that he has to go to the checkout, where the products are weighted and charged.

This method, that is the most common nowadays, means nuisances, wastes of time and some other troubles for the consumer. Also, the shop needs an employee for weighing and charging the products.

By other side, there exist vending machines that dispense loose products like the ones related, but dispensing is made into bags so the consumer does not have the chance of buying the precise wanted amount, so he has to buy the weight contained on the bag.

Anyway, vending machines including dispensing and weighing means for loose products are not known.

THE INVENTION

The present invention has been conceived in order to solve the problems previously shown. It is made from a common wardrobe, with a numerical selector, an information display, a coin slot, one container for each product, a display cabinet and an outlet for the product. The special feature in this invention is a special system for dispensing containers, as well as a jig with a receiving hopper for each product, combined with a scale that is part of the jig. The machine also includes an automatic bagging system for the products sold, single or united, as ordered by the costumer.

Specifically, the invention presents, as first innovation feature, the inclusion of a series of containers housing different products, made of clear-plastic cylindrical tubes, resting on different pairs of rollers. Those cylindrical tubes include an internally secured spring, that is activated from its base by an engine that works when coins are inserted and costumer pushes the selector. There is another engine in order to activate a frontal open-and-close door on the container, so that on its closed position it prevents product's outlet, and on its opened position the product outlets when the cylindrical tube turns. Close to the outlet, there is a pair of semi-disks. One of them is fixed, and the other is revolving, so the outlet can be regulated according to the product or its quantity. There is also a fixed pivot combined with the pair of semi-disks.

Optionally, and depending on the kind of product, there may be installed on container's bottom a disruptive pendulum, in order to avoid the products being stuck on the cylindrical tube.

The second innovation feature in this invention is a positioning system for the hopper that receives the product from the containers, as well as a dispensing system from the hopper to the outlet.

The positioning system consists of a transversal and frontal guide, movable in ascending and descending direction, while it is combined through pulleys and cables with some reels located above it. Those reels are activated by an engine so that when the engine works, depending on turning direction, the guide is moved vertically up and down. Due to that movement, hopper is moved too. Hopper is not only moved ascending and descending, but it is also moved sideways by a tilting movement in order to fix exactly with the containers. There is also another sideways movement to the opposite side, in order to empty the hopper into the outlet receptacle.

Since it is evident, the hopper is movable through a rail so it can be placed, depending on customer's selection, close to the cylindrical container's outlet that contains the product selected by the customer. The hopper is emptied out by tilting it over. A weighing cell is also placed in the rail.

The third innovation feature is the bagging system. It is made by a bag container, with a cylindrical-squared shape. Bags are inside it, and it also has a curved front in order to allow a tilting movement. There is also a movable suction plate placed close to top of bag's pile, so that those bags are individually removed by suction. The movable suction plate is linked with a pipe that takes the bags from movable suction plate to a stationary vertical suction plate. The movable plate has a pinion that engages with two racks. The first one is above it, and it allows suction plate's movement of descent when it is in front of the bag's container. The other rack allows the frontal movement when suction plate is in opposite to vertical plate. In this case, a valve is activated through a crankshaft so that it allows suction, and both sheets of the bags are separated. One of the sheets is stuck on suction plate's bellows, and the other is stuck on vertical plate, so that the bag is opened. The product is placed into the bag by the hopper and, when suction ends, the bag falls by gravity with the product inside. There is a trapdoor manually-opened to remove the bag together with the dispensed product.

Moving and tilting movements of the movable plate are made by an engine with a pinion and a rack. When it works, the plate is moved back and forward. When the pinion reaches some of the rack's stretches, plate tilts in order to absorb bags from pile and to free them when filled. The freeing action takes place when plate is in front of product container's outlet.

PLANS AND DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description, and to reach a better understanding of the invention according to the preferential manufacturing process, some drawings are added to this document.

FIG. 1.—It shows a frontal representation of the automatic machine, made according to the aim of the invention.

FIG. 2.—It shows a cross-section side view of one of the cylindrical tubes that constitute a container, resting on the lower rollers.

FIG. 3.—It shows a frontal view of the cylinders represented on the previous figure, as well as the lower rollers that support each container.

FIG. 4.—It shows a general perspective of the rollers, specifically four couples to support four containers, with the planned elements for activating each cylinder.

FIG. 5.—It shows a frontal detail of the displacement system for the hopper that receives the products from the different containers. On the outlet can be seen the rack's stretch on which the pinion engages and tilts the hopper. Also has been drawn, in the stretch previously referred, the position of the hopper when it is starting the unloading.

FIG. 6.—It shows a lateral view of the hopper with the mechanisms that allow the tilting movement, the pinion, the rail with the weighing cell and their assembly over the hook. This figure also shows the tilting movement of the hopper when it is being positioned close to the container's outlet.

FIG. 7.—It shows a schematic view of the automatic bagging system, where all its elements can be seen.

FIG. 8.—It shows a floor plan of the bag container, as well as the movable suction plate with its bellows. Those bellows extract the bags one by one. It can also be seen the internally secured pinion that moves the suction plate.

FIGS. 9 to 13.—They shows different moments of the automatic bagging system when it is working.

PREFERENTIAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR THE INVENTION

As seen in the previous figures, this automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products is a vending machine constituted by a rectangular wardrobe (1) with a display cabinet of containers (2), containers for the products, a numerical selector (3), an information display (4), a coin slot (5) and an outlet (6) for the dispensed product.

From this features, it has been foreseen that containers must be made, on each case, by a cylindrical tube as shown on FIG. 2, on which interior is an internally secured spring so that containers (2) are supported by couples of rolling rollers, assisted by a frame (9). There is also an engine (10) in order to activate container's turn (2). This engine (10) has an activating element (11) coupled on a notch (12) made on the base (13) of each cylinder (2). Close to each cylinder's outlet there has been foreseen a regulator that allows or prevents product's exit depending on its thickness. That regulator consists of two semi-disks (14 & 14′). The first one is fixed and the other turns partially for closing the outlet according to product's thickness. A pivot (15) has been also foreseen.

Each cylinder or container (2) turns independently according to customer's choice. Cylinder's (2) outlet has a gate (16) activated by an engine (17) that closes it when the product is dispensed.

Products leave cylinders (2) by a tilting hopper (18) that slides on a rail (19) over a straight guide (20), as clearly seen in figure number 4, so that on guide's end where hopper (18) has to empty there is a rack (21) which function will be explained later.

Over the rail (19) there is a weighing cell (22) that weighs product contained on the hopper (18); the hopper has a hinge (23) that allows its movement until it fits container's outlet (2) in order to receive dispensed product without leaks. The movement is provided by an engine (24) that, through a crankshaft, pushes the hopper's bottom (18), moving it, as explained before.

At the end of the crankshaft (25) there is a pinion (26) that engages with the rack (21) when hopper (18) is close to that part of the rack (21). There is also a hinge (27) that allows the hopper (18) to be moved into its unloading position when it reaches the end of the rack (21) because, as it has been told before, the hopper (18), according to the product chosen by the numerical selector (3), will turn and move until it is positioned close to container's (2) outlet of the chosen product for gathering it. After that, hopper is moved towards the rack's end (21), and there it is moved again by the gear made between the pinion (26) and the rack (21) in order to empty product previously received from the hopper (18).

Hopper's vertical displacements, it is to say, in ascending and descending sense, are made through lateral cables (28) that are connected with pulleys (29) united with the guide (20) through which hopper (18) is moved, and reels (30) above it, so that those pulleys (29) slide through round guides (31) situated vertically in both wardrobe's sides (1). That movement is in ascending and descending sense on the guide (20) and, therefore, in the same sense that hopper's movement. That movement is activated by an engine (32) that activates reel's axle (30) on which cables (28) are coiled.

In recounted to automatic bagging system, represented on FIGS. 8 & 9, it is constituted by a suction plate (33) with bellows (34) that tilts around a pint of joint (36) with regard to the joint with a flexible tube (37), that is part of the suction system, connected through a pipe (38) with suction engine (39), including an axis of joint (36) and an internally secured pinion (40), which function will be explained later.

From the connection between flexible tube (37) and pipe (38), another pipe (38′) is established. It ends on a stationary vertical plate (57) situated above the outlet receptacle (41) where outlet (6) is situated. In that receptacle, a tilting door (42) with counterweight (43) has been planned.

Stationary vertical plate (57) is activated by a valve associated with an arm (45).

This system also includes a guide (46) that, combined with a rack (47), directs suction plate's (33) movements. It is made by an engine (48) with a pinion (49) that engages with rack (47). There are also different stretches on the rack: on its end (50) and another one (50′) above it and movable to opposite end.

Operation way:

When money is inserted through coin slot (5), customer pushes a button in the numerical selector (3) according to wanted product. Each button in numerical selector matches with a different container (2), so that customer will push the button in the numerical selector (3) until wanted amount is obtained. It is necessary to bear in mind that, when selector (3) is pushed, the hopper (18) that receives the selected product will be moved until fixing with container's outlet. Dispensing is made through container's (2) turn, that dispends the product slowly until customer stops pushing numerical selector (3) or available money runs out.

Obviously, costumer is able to select different products with the same amount of money by pushing different buttons in the selector (3) so that the hopper (18) will receive those products, keeping in mind that, after each different selection, customer is informed by information display (4) about the amount selected in grams and the remaining money.

When there is no money left, received product on the hopper (18) falls to outlet receptacle (41), where previously a bag (51) has been situated. Hopper is emptied by its tilting movement when it moves to rack's (21) area that engages with the pinion (26), generating that tilting movement around the hinge (27).

Under movable suction plate (33) it is situated a container (52) for bags (51), that have to be suctioned by that plate (33). That container (52) has a rectangular curved shape on its frontal part (52′), fixing with suction plate's (33) brim. There are also serrated strips (53) combined with small springs (54) in order to avoid bags sticking between themselves.

Container (52) also has a back wall (55) with a buffer (56) for bag (51) pilling up. That wall (55) is able to tilt in order to let its projection towards out so that bags (51) are loaded inside container (52), pilled for their individual extraction.

According to suction system previously described, automatic bagging system is as detailed:

Beginning from the position drawn in figure number 9, when machine starts working, suction engine (39) is activated, and an order is given to movable suction plate (33) so that it moves backward and tilts down. Then, bellows (34) absorb first bag (51) of the pile contained on container (52). Bellows (34) adapt themselves according to bags remaining on the container. Bags are extracted from their frontal part, as shown on figure number 9.

Simultaneously, pinion (40) from aspiration plate engages with rack (50′) and produces a tilting movement on movable plate (33) until it stands in half-vertical position, as shown on figure number 10. That set advances, due to the engage between pinion and rack (47), to the opposite side, as shown on figure number 10.

When movable suction plate (33) gets the position shown on figure number 11, its pinion (40) engages with the rack (50), producing a tilting ahead movement so that movable plate (33) is opposite to stationary suction plate (40). Simultaneously, the arm (45) starts its movement, activating the valve (44) and opening it so that plate (40) aspirates the other side of the bag (51), opening it, as shown on figure number 12.

On this moment, suction machine (39) stops working and movable suction plate (33) moves back, letting bag (51) to fall filled with its content, as shown on figure number 13, into outlet receptacle (41). Then, costumer opens the trap door (42) and takes the bag (51) with the product inside. Simultaneously, movable suction plate keeps on moving until reaching rack's area (50′); then it engages with the pinion (40), producing a tilting towards ahead and downwards movement so that it is ready to start again the bag-suction process. That is the start position as shown on figure number 9. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products, for example products such as screws, buttons, or dried fruits, comprising: a housing comprising a display cabinet; containers in the cabinet, and, on the front side of the housing, a numerical selector, an information display, a coin slot and an outlet for dispensed products; said containers comprising cylindrical dispenser containers supported for individual rotation by couples of rollers so they may be rotated when they are actuated by respective motors; each container having an internally spring for sweeping loose products in the container towards an outlet of the container when the container is rolled to dispense products in the container; a closing door for the container activated by a door motor; a locating system for a hopper that receives products dispensed from the containers, said hopper being movable horizontally and vertically to align with a respective container outlet; said hopper being arranged to move axially along a guide by means of a rail, and a weighing cell for weighing dispensed product located above the rail; an automatic bagging system comprising a bag-suction plate, with a suction pad on its upper end, and a stationary vertical suction plate assembled above a bag receptacle when product is dispensed; a suction motor, connected through a pipe with a flexible tube that connects with the suction plate, and also with another pipe that connects with the stationary vertical suction plate.
 10. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 9, wherein said containers each have on their back side a base with a notch that receives an activating element actuated by the motor in order to execute rotation of each container.
 11. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 9, wherein the rotary containers have assembled close to their outlet a regulation system constituted by a pair of semi-disks, one of said discs being fixed on an axle and the other one being manually movable about the axle on which first one is fixed, so that movable disk's turning movement in one or other direction produces a bigger or smaller opening in the container's outlet according to the selected products' thickness; and a fixed but adjustable pivot that is adjustable inwardly and outwardly, specifically up on its end or down on its external end, opposite to a container outlet, in order to facilitate separation of products while they are being dispensed.
 12. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 9, including pulleys on both ends of said linear guide, said guide assembled for vertical movement; cross lateral cables arranged to move vertically and to cross a pair of reels situated above them; said reels being assembled on a common rail which is activated by a motor that coils and unwinds the cables so they move up and down to move the guide connected to the hopper vertically, so that said movements, combined with the linear movements of the hopper on the guide, enable the hopper to be located under a respective container outlet through which product previously selected by pushing the numerical selector is dispensed.
 13. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 12, wherein the hopper is arranged to tilt due to a first hinge provided in one of its ends for enabling the hopper to tilt towards a container outlet, and a second hinge on the opposite end of the hopper; and a pinion that engages with a rack situated on the end of the guide that enables tilting of the hopper to unload the products contained therein into an outlet receptacle.
 14. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 9, wherein the suction plate with the suction pad on its top side is arranged to pivot up and down, said down pivot movement being enabled by a guide and a rack that engages with a pinion activated by a motor arranged to engage the rack to pivot the suction plate down and to insert its suction pad into the bag container so that the bags are engaged individually, and with the up pivoting movement of the suction plate through the guide, a bag is moved by the suction plate to a stationary vertical plate that is activated by a valve so an opposite sheet of the bag is engaged, thereby opening it to receive products coming from the hopper when the hopper is tilted.
 15. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 14, wherein actuation of the valve is made by an arm actuated by the suction plate when the pinion engages the rack that is located on an end of the stationary vertical plate.
 16. Automatic machine for weighing and dispensing loose products according to claim 14, wherein the bag container has a rectangular curved shape on its frontal side engaging a brim of the suction plate; serrated strips and small springs on the internal side of the bag container that prevent the bags from sticking together; and said bag container including a tilting wall therein to facilitate insertion and stacking of the bags in the bag container. 